Greece starts evacuation of 6,000 refugees from islands per EU deal

Greece, with help from the EU, has started the evacuation of 6,000 asylum seekers from temporary camps on Greek islands, following the EU-Turkey repatriation agreement struck on Friday. On Saturday, it was announced that the majority of people were set to be evacuated within 24 hours. The ferry with the first 2,500 refugees was due to leave on Sunday.

The EU has pledged to provide 2,300 security and legal experts, as well to help the evacuation, with the first ones arriving during the weekend, the Greek newspaper Kathmerini reported. Plus, Germany and France promised to send to Greece 300 officials and “technical expertise” to assist the process, according to German news agency DPA citing a letter from German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and his French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve to the European Commission. READ MORE